The Juice Maker

by Eva
(Santaigo CHILE)

By chance, I found this solution when I went to a big property outside of Santiago, Chile, recently. The family I met use plums from their plum trees, but if you don't have a plum tree, buy about two or three kilos of plums, depending on how much juice you want to make or if you want to make enough to last the week.

Rinse them and put them into a sauce pan with the seeds still inside (or if you are motivated, cut them in half and remove seeds before cooking). Cover the plums with boiling water to about the level of one and a half inches higher than the level of plums.

Add sugar according to your taste. I don't add any at all because I prefer the natural sugars of the fruit, which can be deliciously sour depending on the fruit. Boil to cook them over a medium heat for about 45 minutes, until the water becomes a deep red colour. Leave the cover off the sauce pan, or semi-covered. Allow to cool and remove seeds by hand. Put all the water and fruit into a blender and blend until smooth. If you hear a seed in there, use a strainer to locate it. Strain if you want a very smooth consistency, but you will be removing fibre which will help the constipation. Store in a recycled bottle or jug in the fridge. Drink regularly.